Erasmus Experience in Glasgow, United Kingdom by Christoph

Why did you choose to go to Glasgow, United Kingdom?

I choose Glasgow, because I wanted to improve my English skills.

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

5 month. I received approximately 1 500 €. Can't say the real number yet, because it is calculated by each day. Means the Erasmus-plus program have a €/day factor. It is depending which time the university is accepting (if you arrive earlier then the actual student term is you might receive no money on these days).

What is the student lifestyle like in Glasgow?

There are bus trips every weekend to awesome places in Scotland. It is an international student programe, so you find easy new friends there.

You can easily find good clubs, pubs or gigs. For party the Scottish people temp to dress up fancy (related to the point of view I am from Austria things are different).

Would you recommend the city and the University of Glasgow to other students?

City is kind a sleeping monster. The surface is not as beautiful as Edinburgh (but it has definitely has it hotspots: The necropolis, the Green Park, West End - Aston Lane, really beautiful). But besides that, when you got under the surface, you see Glasgow is offering a great music and art style. Glasgow definitely has it's benefits.

What is the food like?

Haggis is awesome (in a good restaurant). Scotland itself has not that big agriculture they are importing most of the food, you probably find something from your country. Go eating is depending on which restaurant you are going.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Glasgow?

No.

How much does it cost to live in Glasgow?

Uff... though question. Depending what activities you are planning. To go out for drinks is expensive (but they have a weekly Erasmus Wednesday with 1 pound drinks and free entry). Food is also expensive (I can recommend Aldi or Lidl). What really expensive is, are the accommodations.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

Well some teachers have less accent some more, but that´s not a hint. It´s not that big deal. Yes, language courses are available, there are more terms in one semester each of them is for 6 weeks. That´s really awesome at each term the first class is free (you can choose from a pool of classes), so you can plan when you have time for a language course.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Glasgow from your city?

By plane, there are really cheap options by "Ryanair" from Vienna, Linz to London and then to Glasgow or Salzburg to Glasgow (starting at 30 pounds - depending on the day, luggage, etc. ).

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Glasgow?

• Kokomo (Wednesday, there is this cheap Erasmus party).
• Aston Lane (awesome party lane next to the Glasgow University).

I can generally recommend the West End!

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Loch Ness, Highlands, Stoneheaven, Isle of Sky, Harry Potter Bridge & much more.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Glasgow in the future?

Spend enough time for searching an accommodation. Great flatparties and busy social life in the university dorms on the campus but they are mostly to expensive for the space you get, and generally they are old buildings. Uni live is more stressful then you might know from your hometown (depending on the degree, courses, well i have friends they are not busy as me), therefore I can recommend to search for a flat near the university. Cycling to uni won't work every day (Scottish weather) and both universities (I am at the Strathclycde) have to much street percent gradients. Cheapest ones are around 350 - 400 pounds per month.